No comments about Great Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Paintings: 24 Cards From The Art Institute of Chicago Collection (Card Books).

1 comments about The Treasures of Islamic Art in the Museums of Cairo.

1. The woodworks, ivory carvings, metalwork, ceramics, manuscripts paintings, sculptures, glass, and other art works, despite their variety, different ages, and countries, all "bear something of the essence of the Islamic faith: divine unity, balance, and peace." Unlike much Western art, Islamic art is not meant to be provocative or idiosyncratic. Their are works from Turkey, Iran, and other places in the Muslim world. But most are from Egypt arranged according to different ruling dynasties starting about 600AD. Fine color photographs catch the details of designs, the textures, and the workmanship of the varied pieces. General text gives historical and cultural background of the different historical periods, and there's an informative, concise annotation with each art work pictured. The variety of the art works, the specifics of the annotations, and the text sections giving background convey the bounty of the world of Islamic art.

5 comments about Nathan Oliveira (San Jose Museum of Art).

1. I don't think that the overtones of existentialism that resonated over forty years ago hold up today. This is a classy book with the full story from Peter Selz. Peter Selz used to teach art history at the Institiute of Design in 1953 -54. I don't think his interest in expressionism fitted the Moholy Nagy idealogy.The reproductions are ample and good.The late prints interest me more than the painterly figure work. A centralized figure that takes so much importance to his ouvre from those days ,is academic.He is sometimes Giacometti, other times Bacon, his sources don't seem to be resolved. I like his stuff better than Diebenkorn,another academic approach to the figure. My preference is for the Chicago figurative painters. Leon Golub's work still carries power, he saw Iraq prison torture scenes before it happened there.One figure seems easy. Compositions of figures such as Golub carry more weight because there is a message in the interaction of people.His work will hold up not just from a standpoint of subject matter, but form his more original approach to the canvas.For another critique of the San Francisco figure painters see. The Painters Mind: Carl Holty and Romeare Bearden. I am not alone in this judgement. It is a well written ,well illustrated book. Again ,the late prints of Oliviera struck me more than the early work ,as unique work.



2. This book was published for a Nathan Oliveira exhibit at the San Jose (CA) Museum of Art. It portrays the evolution of his painting and many of his most memorable art pieces. This professor emeritus from Stanford University is currently working on a meditation chapel to be built on the campus of that prestigious university.



3. i was disapointed by this book and the presentation of it.



4. plain and simple its a nice book and i like oliveria but i really don't think it was worth the price new- and i have quite a few books on painters.



5. Just the right amount of history and ample full-color depictions of the artist's masterful use of gesture, color and raw expression. This book really showcases Oliveira's amazing versatility and his under-rated virtuosity as a painter. Oliveira's work should be included among the greats of contemporary art--and this book proves it. Wow!

No comments about Collecting the New: Museums and Contemporary Art.

5 comments about John Singer Sargent: The Later Portraits.

1. first, i'm a painter myself, and a huge fan of sargent's work. in this book, however, the image quality isn't bad, and the color is close to accurate, but some of the luminoscity in color and contrast are lost. most of the images appear washed out and dull. the portrait on page 577 is a HORRIBLE photo. the art institute of chicago owns this painting, and having been a student there, i've spent hours studying this piece in person. the color os horribly grayed out in the photo, a lot of detail is lost, the painting appears to be a mess of paint rather than precisely carved out shapes (which is what made sargent so excellent). this is a landscape, but it doesn't seem to be painted outside in the photo! this is one of sargents greatest pieces, in my opinion, and the photo of the painting was completely butchered.
   
   most other photos aren't this bad, but you must keep in mind that most of the paintings in this book are printed only half or a quarter of the page. everything just appears so shrunken, you can't observe the detail.
   
   that being said, if you are a huge fan of sargent, an art historian, or for any other reason you want at your hand every single piece he's done, this would be a necessary addition. it's not a complete waste of money, i just don't think it is worth more than $25 or so. though, it IS the only book like this published thus far.
   
   also, upon my first flip-through of the book, once i got to the last page, i realized my last page tore from the cover & the binding is exposed. i ordered this book brand new from amazon, so even though i can easily re-glue the binding together, it makes me feel the quality of this book is actually very low and cheap.
   
   unfortunately, i spent an additional $100 on the other two volumes to this collection, and they have yet to arrive. hopefully they won't be as disappointing as this one.



2. I can't say enough about this entire series of books. It is the most comprehensive Sargent collection in the world, and a must for any Sargent fans. Every single volume is filled to the brim with his work and details about his life and his artwork. It also does not skimp on quality--the whole thing is printed in color (which was a relief, because I can't stand b/w printing of colored material--it's a crime in my opinion).



3. true masters in Western Art history. His use of color in his paintings is unrivalled. I like how he treats his subjects in his paintings. He truly showed their humanity and beauty in a realistic light unlike most painters of his time who employ flattery in their paintings to please their patrons.
   
   This book is well worth a look and a pleasure to behold!



4. If art alone can teach the next generation of artists by the virtue of it's beauty and technical precision, Mr. Sargent's work is a master course all students must enroll. He divides the canvas into two distinct color families of light and dark and assigns them both temperatures he adheres to throughout the painting process. His colors fall within five distinct values which in it's simplicity empowers his brush with emotional impact second to none. Each reproduction whether it is in color or tone speaks to a new generation the great truths once understood by art teachers and taught in schools across America. Now, only a few understand these principles and even less master them to the level of Mr. Sargent, Anders Zorn and Franz Hal.
   
   This book is worth it's weight in gold as a resource to teach and inspire not only for students but professionals alike. Let Mr. Sargent bring you back to a day when art was produced by a master's hand and had the precision of technical achievement alongside artistic beauty. Let each brush stroke teach you about modeling form and creating emotional impact that will inspire you to new heights and astonish the next generation.



5. This is the third in an amazing series of books. The photos of this mans work are just beautiful. All three of these books in this series are consistantly good. I am a huge fan of Singer Sargents work, but even if you don't know much about him you won't be able to help but admire this singular talent. John Singer Sargent was an American treasure and I am so grateful that someone created such a wonderful tribute to his work, I highly recommend all three, they are each special in their own singular way, much like the man himself.

5 comments about Saul Steinberg: Illuminations.

1. I confess - up to now, I had written off Saul Steinberg as "that New York poster guy." Then I got this book at the library, and what an eye-opener! This is an artist with an amazingly strong vision and message, often bitingly satirical, with incredible figures and dazzling compositions, working in a surprising range of materials (pencil, ink, watercolor, crayon, and rubber-stamping - often on the same piece).
   I particularly delight in his wide-ranging "cartoon" people - playing style against style, turning expectations inside out, displaying a strong commentary on modern America with his demented cowboys, high-fashion women, and multiple little stamped inspectors offering a silent commentary to the various goings-on.



2. this is the biggest ilustrator of the world,you'l never been disappointing with this book, a great gift for desing artist!



3. This book sums up most of the best work of Saul Steinberg, and for those who like his graphics, an absolute "must have"



4. The marvelous Saul Steinberg exhibition at the Morgan Library in NYC is almost too much to take in even if one devotes an entire afternoon. Unlike some art exhibitions, Saul Steinberg's work is full of references and verbal ques that make ones brain fire on all cylinders simlutaneously. That can be exhilarating, but also exhausting. Saul Steinberg, the book, allows one to take in the artists's work in smaller bites: indeed, you can dip into the book at any page and be well fed. Don't miss the exhibition. But then, make sure you get the book.



5. First, I must confess that I am predisposed to enjoying this book. I love everything about the man and his work. Over the past several years I've acquired fourteen volumes of Steinberg's art as well as other printed pieces. Before the internet this would have been almost impossible and very costly. My earliest recollection of art I had strong feelings about goes back to the late 1940's when I saw a series of drawings by Saul Steinberg in The New Yorker.
   
   That being said, this catalog is one of the finest volumes of his work to date. It is a generously sized book at 10 x 12 inches, hardcover and 288 pages. It is printed on a matte coated paper which means the reproductions are excellent. The book is very well thought out. It begins with two illustrated essays. They are followed by the catalogue of the exhibition. This is followed by notes, chronologies and other information which illuminates Mr. Steinberg's career.
   
   It is a very well designed book. The type choices and page formats make it quite easy to actually read. This is not always the case since the advent of computer composition. The catalogue section gives each work of art a two-page spread. The title, pictorial information and a brief commentary are on the left facing page and a reproduction is on the right facing page. The illustrations are large and accurate to the originals. For some art works there are extra illustrations below the commentary on the left facing page.
   
   If you are intrigued about this artist, Saul Steinberg ILLUMINATIONS, is a must for your library. To round out your collection, consider purchasing STEINBERG AT THE NEW YORKER which was recently published and should still be available. If you are interested in seeing the actual exhibition, you should be able to find information online at the Saul Steinberg Foundation website.

4 comments about Roadside Giants.

1. Sarah and Brian Butko have another winner with Roadside Giants! Their joy of life comes through loud and clear here as they share with us the wonderful and wacky sights along the open road. Just like their fantastic 'Greetings from the Lincoln Highway' and 'Roadside Attractions', this book will have you packing your suitcases for a road trip, either real or armchair! Either way, you will enjoy this book!



2. Readers can discover the eccentric tendencies of American roadways in Roadside Giants co-authored by Brian and Sarah Butko. Roadside Giants is the fun travel guide to exploring the roadside intricacies and oddities of American culture, applying "an-easy-to use" map of America's giants with enhanced with full color pictures, aspect dimensions, address and location and a brief history for each of the dozens of featured places. Roadside Giants is very highly recommended, particularly to the parents of family looking for a fun and interesting travel idea.



3. This book really captures all the great memories of going on vacation as a child. The Butko's do a wonderful job of finding all the great places, some off the beaten track and others not so off track, to help make memories for you and your children to take a driving vacation. The best memories seem to be the unplanned stops along the way. The authors make finding unusual spots a whole lot easier. The book is perfect to fit in the glove compartment to have handy no matter where your drive takes you. You are guaranteed to find a spot to stop somewhere along the way. By the authors taking all the guess work out of where to stop I think it will enable you to take in more roadside attractions and easier to plan the vacation. The pictures entice you to want to see all the attractions in person. This book definitely deserves a thumbs up! Great job!



4. This book depicts examples of the various types of fiberglass statues they call 'giants' from coast to coast. Started originally as an ax-wielding Paul Bunyan, they became auto-related and usually held mufflers in their hands as they were in front of the businesses. The one pictured called Cowboy Sam, the big man in white because he also wears an enormous white cowboy hat, is thirty-foot-tall is in front of a restaurant. He was found at a Chicago restaurant show in 1962 and relocated to Pennsylvania, where the author lives. Originally, the Shoney's restaurants in this area had Big Boy statues out in front of their places, until people started carting them off. This cowboy has a black bow tie which makes him pretty classy.
   
   This phenomenon started back in the 1920s used them in place of big signs to look like the products they were selling. In Knoxville, there were (and still are a couple left standing) of the tall ice-cream cones in front of the Kay's Ice Cream Shops. Now, the specialty is to have air-filled floppy imitations to get the attention of the public.
   
   In the Introduction, they write that it is hard for the public, historians, and civic planners to view such attractions as historic; there is a building out on Clinton Highway built like a bi-plane and was originally a service station. A group raised funds to repair the dilapidated building and possibly transform it into a museum of some type. We also have two very large, black fiberglass cannons in front of our old courthouse. The World's Largest Teapot in West Virginia started out as a huge wooden barrel for Hire's Root Beer, but with the handle, top and spout, it magically turns into a teapot.
   
   As the authors continue to take their trips to keep track of the elusive giants, they conclude that many have been preserved and there are actually some new ones out there. They've taken many trips to photograph the most unusual. There is an strange one near Denver. This book spotlights their favorites of the larger-than-life spectacular attention-getters from travelers and gives directions for finding them. Mr. Butko has written some books about unique diners, and his other book, GREETINGS FROM THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY.

4 comments about Chihuly: Form from Fire.

1. This book is great for any fan of Chihuly's work, or just anyone who enjoys beautiful art. Not only are Chihuly's works extremely aesthetically pleasing, but they are enchanting and inspirational.



2. Purchased as a gift for a beginning glass artist, the book is inspiring and beautifully done. It is a great reminder of the exhibits that we have seen.



3. This book was produced in conjunction with a series of Florida exhibitions in 1993. This book, filled with dozens and dozens of Full Color and full page reproductions in approx. 142 pps., really lays it out for the viewer in a way that, if you were either unfamiliar with or indifferent to Dale Chihuly's work, will make you a convert. Really. I fall into the latter category perhaps because, as the world famous art dealer Henry Geldzahler puts it in the foreward of this book " Chihuly's work is American in its apparent vulgarity, it brazenness and its fearlessness to move farther out west even if there is no further west to move to."
   However, when one goes through the varous glass genres that the artist creates, Baskets, Sea Forms, Persians, Venetians, Ikebana, Niijima Floats and Macchia, among others, one begins to appreciate the sheer power and artistry that gets expressed in Chihuly's florid craft. The publishers might have botched the operation if they had cheaped out on the book's production values, fortunately they did not and this 'Made In USA' book can takes its place among any other of your expensive, high-end coffee table (folio sized) art books. As the reviewer states below, there isn't a lot of text here, just an introductory paragraph or two from the artist before each themed chapter but really, the art work says more than enough. I can heartily recommend this book even if you do not collect glass work, and even if you haven't yet cottoned on to Mr. Chihuly's work.



4. Absolutely amazing!
   Chihuly is incredible.
   Not much in the way of descriptions, just a brief introduction to each series (Macchia's, Persians, etc.), which I found just enough. What I'm interested in are the actual pieces, and there are plenty of exceptional pictures.
   Again, amazing. Truly inspiriational for the novice glass blower and an absolute delight for everyone else!

2 comments about An Atlas of Drawings.

1. Aren't all MoMA books just great? I haven't found one that I don't like yet. This book has an awesome cover and design-- it opens like a portfolio/envelope and has all of the images strung together in accordion books. The premise is that it links together previously unrelated works by common imagery. It's really fun to look at correlations between completely unrelated artists and genres. Plus I can actually display this book on my wall by pinning up the individual accordions. Overall an awesome book.



2. An Atlas of Drawings is exactly as it's described: a novel way to experience MoMA's drawings without the conventional contexts usually given to works of art, like chronology or artistic movement. As an art history novice, I enjoyed the seemingly random juxtapositions that offer viewers the opportunity to make their own connections, if any, between the drawings, the motifs, the lines and forms. Also, flipping through the accordion-folded folios allows for a continuous (circular) viewing experience, as if to reinforce the idea that artistic themes repeat throughout history. The set (booklet, folios, and leaf-fold slipcase) is beautifully printed, as one would expect from a museum publication, and makes a lovely collectible or gift.

2 comments about Art Law Conversations: A Surprisingly Readable Guide for Visual Artists.

1. The current edition, published in 2005, has short, readable sections on topics including copyrights, trademarks, protecting your work on the Internet, model releases, consignment agreements, commission contracts, and much more. The book answers questions with real-world examples and includes references to specific online resources for more information. A very solid contribution in an important field!



2. This book was the best I have read in years. Up to date information since it was published after 1999. I would recommend it to anyone working with non profits.